And I finally drilled into the side of one of those columns. (Down low where an outlet would be. I will be passing wires through this spot with a plate, so no harm no foul.)

Thicker than I thought at 3/4 inch. Was able to run a coat hanger up past where the horizontal piece is. Thats good. I am presuming I will probably find another 3/4+ of wood between the inside of the vertical piece and the horizontal piece. Right now I am not too concerned with that as I think the opening I will need to make for the center channel speaker will allow me enough room to get a drill in there to address it as needed.

I have been here for almost 5 years. I have had 2 false starts to getting new speakers.

Mark, one thought is that if you're going to be sitting about 11' away, more spacing(say 10')between the mains would be desirable than the mounting on the vertical mantel columns would permit. Of course, if that's about the only practical option, it'll have to do.

Yes, since you're sitting almost up against the back wall, the QS8s should be mounted on the back wall, about 3' above ear level and separated as widely as possible, since they're side surround speakers.

When I demoed the M22 M60 and M80 at Axiom I found the M22 + sub sounded almost the same as the M60. The only way I could tell which was on was when there was enough low frequency stuff (like in movies) for the sub to distinguish itself. On most music, the two systems sounded damned near identical.

_________________________
Fred

-------Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!

Here's a Q. For rear surrounds, what I have planned is left surround at 132* (recommendation is 135-150*). I can not increase this angle.The right, to keep some symmetry on the back wall, is planned at 146*

Thoughts on that?

Also as far as height, I am planning on the sides to be the same elevation as the rears. Planning on QS8s for those positions, and not sure how much clearance is desired to the ceiling.

Currently I have the bottoms of the sides and rears at 95 1/2 " (just shy of 8 ft). that places them roughly 49 1/2" above listening level.

On the sides that allows the tops of the speakers to clear thethe ceiling by 27 1/2 ".

I can not lower the sides, I can raise them though if desireable.

Keeping the sides and rears bottoms level, the rear tops of the speakers have clearance to the ceiling of roughly 41 1/2".

Thoughts?

Other Facts: The sides are at 90*. I could if needed increase this slightly.

The front mains are at 14* each. I can not change that. I know 22-30* is desired.